Africa Live this week: 30 January-5 February 2023

For the latest updates, go to bbc.com/africalive

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Actor Idris Elba has announced plans to build a film studio in Ghana, after meeting with the country's President Nana Akufo-Addo.

"Currently, we call it West African Studios, but that’s a working title. We’ve been working on this for three or four years to raise a plan that puts a facility at the centre of African filmmaking. There’s a lot for African filmmaking, but the facilities are lacking," the British actor told Ghanaian media.

He said that he hopes the project will attract more filmmakers to Ghana and West Africa.

Elba also revealed that he plans to film a movie in Ghana in December - which will be the second time he has gone to the country to do so.

However, some people have criticised the move, saying the actor was side-lining his Sierra Leonean roots.

He addressed this on hisTwitter, telling his Sierra Leonean fans: "I haven't forgotten about you".

Idris Elba is best known for staring in several film and TV productions including Luther, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and The Wire, amongst others.

That's all for now from the BBC Africa Live team, but we'll be back on Monday morning.

Until then you can find the latest updates on the BBC News website, or listen to our Africa Today podcast.

Today's wise words:

Quote Message: A friend in need is a friend indeed." from A Swahili proverb sent by Anthony Kamau Nduati in Lamu, Kenya.

A friend in need is a friend indeed."

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this picture of two teenagers in their bedroom in Nairobi, Kenya from our selection of the best African pictures this week.

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Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has met Tigrayan leaders for the first time since the two sides signed a peace treaty three months ago.

Pictures released by Ethiopian state media show Mr Ahmed and other government officials sitting down with top Tigrayan figures, including the commander of Tigrayan forces, General Tadesse Worede.

They're reported to have discussed the progress made in implementing the peace deal, as well as issues needing further attention.

The agreement ended a two-year civil war that had ravaged the country's northernmost region.

The meeting is reported to have taken place at a resort in southern Ethiopia.

A breakaway archbishop from the Orthodox Ethiopian Church has told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that his group has “overwhelming” public support after touring some areas in the conflict-prone western Oromia.

Three archbishops of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Ethiopian Church ordained 26 Bishops without the consent of the Holy Synod on 22 January.

Of the 26 bishops, 17 are from dioceses located in the Oromia region.

Abune Mathias I, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, called the appointment of the bishops an “illegal” act.

The church’s synod subsequently excommunicated the breakaway clergy and threatened to call nationwide rallies.

But Archbishop Abune Ewostateos has told the BBC he does not recognise the excommunication, saying the breakaway group has set up its own synod.

Archbishop Ewostateos also threatened a schism in the church: “We are going to have a new Patriarch” if the Holy Synod won’t recognise the newly appointed bishops.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Sinach, one of Africa’s most successful and inspirational musical exports, has told the BBC that people must be sure of who they are as they try to reach their dreams.

"I said the first thing as a person with a dream in your heart is to know who you are, because with the knowledge of who you are, you can understand the abilities that God has given you and be able to move ahead and be successful in everything you are doing."

The Nigerian singer is best known for her mega-hit Waymaker, which currently has 219 million Youtube views and has been translated into more than 50 languages and covered by many artists.

It became an anthem of comfort during the Covid pandemic and in 2020 was the most played song in US churches.

Sinach, whose full name is Osinachi Egbu, is in London promoting her new book, entitled I Know Who I Am, which is also the title of another of her hit songs.

She told us that she wrote the book in response to the numerous questions she is asked by fans about her journey and the ingredients of her success.

She also writes about the challenge of coming from a less developed country, money challenges, family, and the need for patience if things don’t happen as quickly as you think they should.

You can hear Sinach in conversation with DJ Edu, and also the songs she recorded especially for the BBC on This is Africa this Saturday, on BBC World Service radio and partner stations across Africa, as well as online:

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has met the state governors from his ruling All Progressives Congress party (APC) over the challenges arising from a scarcity of local currency in the country.

At the meeting held in the presidential palace, the governors expressed their disapproval of the government's policy of redesigning some of the country's currency notes and the consequent scarcity of new notes.

Some of the governors who spoke to journalists at the end of the meeting said that they explained to the president the inappropriateness of taking such a step at this time and the problems the measure has caused the nation.

They therefore suggested that the president should rethink the policy and allow the new and old naira notes to coexist for some time, to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.

A lot of people are complaining about the lack of access to cash. The new banknotes seem to be unavailable at banks, which have seen an influx of customers.

Protests are happening outside the banks and people have also been seen fighting at ATM points in their attempts to get cash.

There are also complaints that online bank transfers aren’t going through.

There are indications that the policy of redesigning the local currency and current fuel scarcity have increased the Nigerians’ dissatisfaction with the ruling party ahead of the general elections later this month.

The governors seem to fear that the situation could affect the APC's chances at the polls.

In a statement at the end of the meeting, President Buhari acknowledged the cash shortages and hardship being faced by people and businesses on account of the naira redesign and sought to assure Nigerian the government would get the situation under control, as we reported earlier.

The deadline to exchange old notes for the new ones was supposed to have been 31 January, but it was extended by 10 days to give more people in rural areas time to get the new notes, the central bank's governor said.